Agricultural Engineering (AGE)

Section Information

Research and innovation in agricultural engineering have been used to improve productivity, resource efficiency, and sustainability across farming and food systems. Growth in global demand, climate variability, and resource limits are creating new needs for systems that remain efficient, reliable, safe, economical, and robust from field to fork.

The operation and management of modern agro-systems require a mix of methods and technologies, from machinery and power systems to sensing, controls, data analytics, and automation. The need to gather information from soils, crops, livestock, equipment, water, and supply chains is critical to understand system state and to optimize yield, quality, cost, energy use, and environmental performance.

This section will present new contributions, studies, and reviews in agricultural engineering, including precision agriculture, mechanization, irrigation and drainage, soil and water conservation, postharvest and food engineering, controlled environments, renewable energy for farms, robotics and automation, biosystems modeling, logistics, and decision support for sustainable and resilient agri-food systems.

Scope

Agricultural Machinery and Power
- Tractors, implements, and power transmission
- Machinery design, safety, and ergonomics
- Energy efficiency and alternative fuels
- Maintenance, reliability, and lifecycle assessment
Precision Agriculture and Sensing
- Remote sensing, UAVs, and proximal sensors
- Variable rate technologies and site-specific management
- GNSS guidance, mapping, and geospatial analytics
- Data fusion and decision support tools
Irrigation, Drainage, and Water Management
- Irrigation system design and control
- Soil–water–plant interactions
- Drainage, salinity management, and water quality
- Water harvesting and deficit irrigation strategies
Soil and Water Conservation
- Erosion assessment and control
- Conservation tillage and residue management
- Watershed hydrology and modeling
- Nature-based solutions and ecosystem services
Postharvest and Food Engineering
- Harvesting, handling, and grading
- Drying, cooling, and storage systems
- Processing, packaging, and shelf-life
- Quality sensing and non-destructive testing
Farm Structures and Controlled Environments
- Greenhouses, vertical farms, and growth chambers
- Environmental control, HVAC, and lighting
- Livestock housing and welfare systems
- Structural design and materials
Automation, Robotics, and Controls
- Field robots and autonomous platforms
- Perception, navigation, and manipulation
- Real-time sensing, controls, and IoT
- Human–robot collaboration and safety
Renewable Energy and Circular Systems
- Bioenergy, biogas, and biomass utilization
- Solar, wind, and hybrid systems on farms
- Energy management and storage
- Waste valorization and nutrient recycling
Biosystems Modeling and Informatics
- Crop, livestock, and system models
- Digital twins and simulation
- AI, ML, and predictive analytics
- Uncertainty, risk, and optimization
Supply Chains, Safety, and Sustainability
- Cold chain and logistics
- Food safety, traceability, and compliance
- Life cycle assessment and carbon accounting
- Climate adaptation and resilience